Charles Dutton - Interview - The Express "...Obama don't change a thing"

He was an outstanding young man of great character who served—
and my hope is, will continue to serve—as an inspiration
to the young people of this country.

—John F. Kennedy on Ernie Davis

In America in the late 1950s and early 60s, one young man became a symbol for a country grappling to move past its long-held views of people of color. His unprecedented journey unfolded as he shattered not only sports records, but also perceptions of what was possible for an African-American at the time. His name was Ernie Davis, but fans knew him better as The Elmira Express.
This film is a tribute to his courage.
Based on a true story, The Express follows the extraordinary life of college football hero Ernie Davis (ROB BROWN of Finding Forrester, Coach Carter). His quiet fight for equality and respect forever changed the face of the game, and his civil rights story continues to inspire new generations.
Born in 1939 and raised in poverty in Pennsylvania coal-mining country by his grandmother and grandfather (CHARLES S. DUTTON of Secret Window, Gothika), before moving to Elmira, New York, Davis hurdled social and economic obstacles to become one of the greatest running backs in college football history. Under the guidance of legendary Syracuse coach Ben Schwartzwalder (DENNIS QUAID of The Rookie, Any Given Sunday), he became a hero who surpassed Jim Browns achievements and became the first African-American player to be awarded the Heisman Trophy, college footballs highest individual honor.

A graduate of the Yale School of Drama, CHARLES S. DUTTON (Willie Pops Davis) has a career spanning theater, television and film, and is one of the few actors to earn Tony, Emmy and Golden Globe Award nominations for the same role. He created the lead roles in three of August Wilsons early plays: Ma Raineys Black Bottom, Jo Turners Come and Gone and The Piano Lesson. He received multiple award nominations, including a Tony Award nomination for Best Actor (Featured Role in a Play), for Ma Raineys Black Bottom and The Piano Lesson. He was also nominated for an Emmy Award and a Golden Globe Award for the Hallmark Hall of Fame presentation of The Piano Lesson.
Dutton starred in and executive produced the FOX comedy-drama Roc, produced by HBO, for which he received several NAACP Image Award nominations. He has numerous television credits, including the miniseries The Murder of Mary Phagan, The 60s, Deadlocked and Aftershock: Earthquake in New York. His episodic appearances include House M.D., The Sopranos and the HBO series Oz, among others. He won Emmy Awards for his guest-starring roles in Without a Trace and The Practice.
Dutton is a veteran of numerous feature films such as Q & A; Alien3; Menace II Society; Rudy; A Low Down Dirty Shame; Cry, the Beloved Country; Nick of Time; A Time to Kill; Get on the Bus; Cookies Fortune (for which he received an Independent Spirit Award nomination); Gothika; and Secret Window. This winter, he can be seen in the new John Sayles film Honeydripper.
Dutton made his directorial debut in 1997 with the HBO movie First Time Felon. He also directed the award-winning HBO miniseries The Corner, for which he received an Emmy Award for Outstanding Directing for a Miniseries, Movie or a Special in 2000. Duttons feature film directorial debut was the 2004 Paramount Pictures film Against the Ropes. In 2006, he directed multiple episodes of the Showtime series Sleeper Cell, for which he received a Directors Guild of America Award nomination. Most recently, he directed the Lifetime Television movie Racing for Time and the pilot Under for A&E. Dutton recently finished shooting the Screen Gems feature Legion, co-starring Paul Bettany and Dennis Quaid.


Footage Courtesy of Universal Pictures

A BlackTree Media Production

Hosted by Ms. Ameerah Banks

Produced by Jamaal Finkley

Edited at BlackTree TV Studios Culver City CA

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Category:

Film & Animation

Tags:

• football
• ernie
• davis
• Rob
• Brown
• charles
• dutton
• the
• express
• film
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• interview
• trailer

[seanm7819]

He seems to be forgetting that black parents need to stop teaching their kids to be perpetual victims and sucking off the tit of the government. I've seen and been called way more racist things by black people than I have ever thought by the way, so it goes both ways.

[rkoliver1]

It's Bush's fault!

[OBAMAisHalfCaste]

Obama is White

[honeegrrl]

The white people who are prejudice will only change if they want to. Change begins from within and that goes for anything. Anything you want to change in your life, you change it and change is up to you.

[tcmax4life]

Bottom line is white people will neva and iimean neva CHANGE!

[sorpresadf]

Spero solo che le cose possono cambiare e anche in fretta. In bocca al lupo!!

[Key713]

I agree with Charles Dutton. Change starts in the mind, with your thinking. Parents must teach their kids in the home first. But who's teaching the parents? Obama winning the Presidency won't change the hearts and minds of people. People have to be willing to change..... Transformation comes from the renewing of the mind which brings CHANGE!!! And yes we did Charles!

Peace out!!

[buggeazy]

right charles woke me up when he started talking lol

[dw053408]

interviewer sucked, but Charles Dutton is great

[freddyblack2003]

nice and fast i wonder what was his 40 time